Peter Hammill's 'Over' is pretty definitive...

And his 'Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night' helped me get over a break-up of my own once. As did Joni Mitchell's 'Hissing of Summer Lawns', come to that.

...Though its author insists it isn't

"Hermit of Mink Hollow." Stunning songs. You get the feeling he recorded it quickly, knowing that it was important to capture the mood that permeated the writing. He plays just about everything himself, is his own backing vocal choir and sings his arse off. Even he has said 'the miserable ones are the best.' Ironically, this contains some of his most uplifting songs - 'All The Children Sing' and 'Determination' are just fantastic and, of course, the album contains one of his greatest songs, 'Can We Still Be Friends.'
Who amongst us hasn't said that, at some time in their lives?

The final Mendoza Line album (30 Year Low + The Final Remarks of the Legendary Malcontent) is a classic of the genre. It's made all the more poignant because it's so good but there won't be any more.

Kramer vs Kramer bitterness I give you ABBA's 'The Visitors' and Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours'.

Here, my Dear - the album he owed Motown after he split from Anna Gordy, Daughter of the label's owner. A sprawling double album, but great

that you listened to together - then are unable to listen to for a while - when you can again - that's when you are over her - kind of anyway

and albums that can help you through a break up aren't necessarily the same thing. Years ago Lou Reed's "Magic and Loss" , a collection of songs about death and grieving, really helped me through a tough break up.

made Phil Collins' solo career and it's all about divorce number 1.

Aimee Mann's "The Forgotten Arm" is about the arc of a relationship to get all pseudy for a moment, and it has a happy ending of sorts.

but the song 'Your Dictionary' by XTC is very powerful.

Not related to a specific breakup (so far as I am aware) but some beautiful (if that's the right word!) breakup songs - This House Is Empty Now, God Give Me Strength, I Still Have That Other Girl amongst others.

by John Martyn completes the divorce themed trinity of Blood On The Tracks and Shoot Out The Lights.

Chris Isaak's "Forever Blue" is definitely a break-up album. Not a bad little record, actually.

no really!

particularly "Go Your Own Way"

A Tramp Shining.

Titter ye not. This, and The Yard Goes On Forever, are wonderful records.

And Abba's Super Trouper?

Particularly the last four songs. Good call Stuart!

Fluffy Pup by The Macc Lads :D

At this point, not only am I getting my coat, I'm sprinting before the bricks start flying my way...

Don't Breathe A Word heartbreak personified

Phil Collins - Face Value

for these - knew you'd do me proud.
And yes, I'm looking for records that are specifically about a break-up, rather than records that make a good soundtrack for one.

Nick Cave - inspired by his break-up with Polly Harvey.

Noah and the Whale's new album is all about the singer breaking up with former member of the band, Laura Marling.

Not sure that the whole album is about the break-up of Paul Simon's marriage to Carrie Fisher but certainly the title track and a few of the other songs are (Train in the Distance). I just love the line about 'the arc of a love affair' describing the whole of the relationship.

yes I have managed to squeeze in another Justin Currie reference. His solo album is full of songs about breaking up.

1. What Is Love For?
2. Not So Sentimental Now
3. Walking Through You
4. Something In That Mess
5. If I Ever Loved You
6. Only Love
7. Gold Dust
8. Out Of My Control
9. Where Did I Go?
10. Still In Love
11. No, Surrender

Each one will break your heart. Enjoy!!

I can't believe I've looked through all those posts and I have the opportunity to post one of the all time great break up albums, Lucinda Williams' World Without Tears. As I understand it though, she covers the dissolution of two relationships on the one album.
I'd also recommend Rosanne Cash's The Wheel and to an extent Roy Harper's Death or Glory, which covers a break up but wanders around quite a few areas.
Reed's Magic and Loss has been cited above. If you're going to stray into the area of bereavement, again Rosanne Cash is an excellent example with her Black Cadillac album.

Let It Be, anyone ? ( from safe distance ).

...is "Oh Shit" by The Buzzcocks. Why bother wading through "Blood On The Tracks" - as lovely as it might be - when Pete Shelley can deliver closure in 1min 37 secs.

http://open.spotify.com/track/455qxaHQ0qMKmCAwT7dE57

THIS is what punk was for.

Begins with Can't Stop The Girl and ends with Only a Boy (sample lyric - "Long may you rot in hell"). Most of the bases covered in between.

Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams

I'm Alive by Jackson Browne

knock knock is apparently the break-up album or mr.smog and cat power (hence the cover!) no-onwe does miserable quite like mr. smog

Was written in the aftermath of a bitter divorce.

It doesn't sound like it.

Listen and fall in love with a girl falling out of love.

by Elvis Costello chronicles the break up of an old relationship and the start of a new one in the same album. The song 'Still' is to me the perfect love song. Further back in his canon there are numerous examples of break up songs but none so eloquently as Alison which is a perfect example.
From my own past I distinctly recall the heartbreak of a relationship that lasted barely a couple of months but Joni Mitchells Shades of Scarlet conquering seemed to encapsulate everything that I was feeling even though the girl and I had never listened to the song together.
From the divorce from my ex-wife I recall playing Tom Petty's 'Only a broken heart' from the Wildflowers album over and over again. At the same time I also painfully recall Loudons 'Your mother and I' because I thought I was losing a son as well as a wife. Got over the wife very quickly and never lost the son - in fact we are best mates!!
Break ups are usually for a very good reason and for any of you currently going through one it will get better and usually MUCH better!!

dissects Damon Albarn's breakup with Justine Frischmann, in the main.

It's their best album, in my very possibly wayward opinion.

Steve McQueen was my break-up album when I came out of a 4 year relationship.

No mewling and sulking for Porter Wagoner. Just a “fifth of courage” and out with the knife.

Titanic Days, including this little known gem:

fave Kirsty song. Kirsty has a stack of breakup songs but I like this the most as it combines her great wit and pointed lyrics

"Now it isn’t in my nature to ever pick a winner
I always pick a bastard who would have me for his dinner"

This from the Titanic Days sessions is a pretty naked and raw song of bitter yet tender regret. Bit too close to the bone to release her version while she was alive thou

Amy Winehouse "Back To Black" is certainly a break-up album.

See also The Wedding Present, numerous records about break-up.

I really like a song Radio 2 are playing but the reviews I've seen are atrocious.

by Beck, is the only album of his I really like, and was written off the back of the break up of his relationship, I believe.

My all time favourite, though, is Disintegration by The Cure. It's fictional, as Bob Smith is a happily married man, but it's dark heavy stuff.

As mentioned at the start - classic John Martyn, classic break up material. And a huge influence on Phil Collins, who drummed on this, and borrowed aural stylings for his Face Value LP.

Here's two, 'good year for the roses' (one of the best lyrics ever, especially the line re the half drunk cup of coffee) and the whole album of 'Phases and stages' by Willie Nelson.

that I think of as breakup albums:

Richard and Linda Thompson - Shoot Out The Lights

(yes I know that it was recorded 2 years before they broke up, but I think its clear that at least subconciously the bittersweetness of realtionship ending is throughout the whole album - wall of death anyone?)

New Order - Technique

(all the self righteousness and joy and anger is there, its the perfect album too get you through a breakup I think, and you can even have a little dance on your own.)

Nick Cave - The Boatman Calls

(already mentioned on here buy I'll mention it again.)

Tunnel Of Love is a great break-up album (well, it's a 'having serious doubts about why I ever thought marrying a model was a good idea' album, at least.)
Brilliant Disguise, Tunnel of Love, and Valentine's Day- all tragic and brilliant. And in fact, The River. And nobody has mentioned Joy Division..

having thrown this open to el Massivo ages ago I never actually weighed in with my own view. At the risk of a stern rebuke for the semi-plug, the piece is here http://gnomeonline.tumblr.com/page/2#345197225

WOW! That is a great piece. Didn't think I was going to dig it but man its rely good. You should publish this in WORD. Cant beleve this guys unsigned!

etc, etc

Reconsider Me. It's a song, not an album, but... Ouch.

Oh, and Nick Lowe's fantastic The Convincer. Homewrecker, Lately I've Let Things Slide, Has She Got A Friend?, Cupid Must Be Angry, I'm A Mess, Bygones Won't Go.

Just superb.

- The Cure.
Spirit of Eden - Talk Talk.

Wouldn't like to see anyone else go through it though.

...by New Order. This soundtracked a breakup that I was actually quite happy about and the closing track, "Dream Attack", had that kind of new dawn feel about it.

Some years later, having been given the elbow, I took solace in Nick Drake's "Fruit Tree" box set..(it took a whole box set!!)

which is about ex Field Mouse Robert Wratten's break-up with fellow band member Annmarie Davies is a sort of indie 'Blood On The Tracks'.

This song, a list of memories of simple things done and places been, is its heartbreaking centre.

Outside of Joni Mitchell I can't think of many pop lyrics as good as these...

Land's End at dusk
A day of churches
Her getting her hair cut
A windswept walk to Dunnet Head
Boarding a northbound train at Inverness
A rainy Cley-next-the-Sea
Her swinging on a tyre
Me taking her picture
A station frozen in time
March stars in a Norfolk sky

Her sleeping head on my shoulder
With the bus heading on
And the day-out done
A lighthouse sending its light
Out across Thurso bay at night
To Blakeney Point and back again
Walking in the ruins
Of Binham Priory
Abba on the jukebox at Parr Sands
A two way trip on the Bodinnick ferry

Presumably this is about Noel's breakup with Meg Matthews?

'Little by little, I gave you everything you ever dreamed of
Little by little, the wheels of your life are slowly falling off
Little by little, you have to give it all up in your life
And I ask myself why you're really here"

(*twaddle alert*) this came across as a semi-concept album to me, or at least a consistently themed album going sequentially from the teen years, young love, marriage, cheating to break up.

You will cry and not be able to listen to it too often - because it is unbearably moving.

"Here My Dear"

Phases & Stages - Willie Nelson, quite literally the definitive break up album.